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Thursday, June 30, 2016

Bio: Kimberly
writes sweet inspirational romance. She married her college sweetheart 25 years
ago. Her hobbies include reading, watching chick flicks, playing the piano,
long walks with her hubby and their yellow lab, drinking coffee, and eating
dark chocolate. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science and is a member
of ACFW.

Welcome back, Kimberly. How did you come up
with the idea for this story?

This story started out as a novella idea that I pitched
along with several other authors to another publisher years ago. At that time,
I was yet unpublished and had the time to tinker with it when we were not
offered a contract. This story has changed more times than I can remember and
has grown over the years into what it is today. I honestly don’t recall the
inspiration, but that’s a little of the history of how it came to be.

If you were planning
a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would
you invite and why?

Margaret Daley because she is one of my critique partners,
and we’ve never met in person. The others five would be JoAnn Durgin because we
have only met online, and I would love to get to know her in person, Lynette
Eason because I love her books, Susan May Warren because she seems like she’d
be a lot of fun, and finally Christina Berry AKA Christina Tarbochia because
she is such a fun person to be around. Christina is one of the first people I
met in the publishing world, and she was also one of the authors who was
originally involved with the novella collection A Love To Treasure was
pitched in.

Now let’s do that for
a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you
invite and why?

I’m not a huge historical fiction reader, but I would for
sure include my other two critique partners, Miralee Ferrell and Vickie
McDonough. Then I would invite Jen Turano because I like her books and have
never met her, Karen Barnett because she is nice, Leslie Gould for the same
reason, and finally Davalynn Spencer because she seems like she’d be a fun
person.

Many times, people
(and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What
is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Keeping up the momentum. There is a lot of self-imposed
pressure to have a book release every four to six months. My publisher is all
for that, but I am tired and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with everything.

Tell us about the
featured book.

A Love to Treasure is a little different from my other
published books. It has a little mystery and suspense mixed into the sweet
romance story. Here is the back cover blurb.

School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this
vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed
Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon,
following Grams’s clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole
finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone.
But Mark must return to his job in Portland
at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart.

Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in
law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed
break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation.
To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings
for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end
of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after?

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Nicole Davis drove past a huge welcome sign to Sunriver, Oregon,
and grinned. She was finally here. She loved this resort community and still
couldn’t believe it would be her home for the next few months.

She bore to the right around the traffic circle. Suddenly a
black car came out of nowhere. Nicole swerved and slammed on the brake, her
front bumper barely missing the side of the black car. Her heart pounded as she
weaved her Mini Cooper S onto the miniscule dirt shoulder a few feet from a
large pine tree. She put the car in park, her breath coming in quick puffs. She
looked around to make sure she hadn’t hit anything. Whew. Everything looked
okay.

The crazy driver who ran her off the road drove around the
circle again and pulled off the road in front of her. This couldn’t be good.
She gulped as a dark-haired man wearing jeans and a dark gray T-shirt stalked
toward her.

Her gut clenched. She checked her reflection in the rearview
mirror and noted her wide green eyes filled with fear. Not good. She needed to
appear unaffected by the incident or he’d see her vulnerability. She took a
deep breath then let it out in a whoosh. After making sure no cars were coming,
she stepped out of her Mini Cooper and onto the shoulder, refusing to be
intimidated by the man. His height caught her by surprise. Most men were only a
few inches taller than she was, but not this guy. He towered above her
five-foot-nine-inch frame. And those biceps—maybe she should’ve stayed in the
car. But he didn’t look dangerous, only irritated.

She offered him a tentative smile. “That was a close call.”

“No kidding. You didn’t yield.” He pointed to a yellow sign.

“Oops. Sorry.” Her face heated. Grams always said she
barreled through life.

However, she generally obeyed traffic signs. “I didn’t see
the sign.”

I’m eager to read the
rest of the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

A Daughter’s Dream is the second novel in the Charmed Life
Amish Series. Each novel focuses on one of the Kinsinger siblings, four adult
siblings who run a large lumber mill in Charm, Ohio.

Tell us about the book’s cover and what
makes it unique.

This cover is
unique to me because I was able not only to choose the models on the cover, but
I was able to go to the photo shoot! When I arrived, the photographer asked me
to chat with the models about the characters they were portraying. To my
delight, they both seemed excited to give being “Jacob and Rebecca” a try. We
walked around the fields and the photographer clicked away. Soon, I felt like I
wasn’t seeing two models but the characters in my book come alive. The scene
that you see on the cover was perfect for their personalities.

Please explain and differentiate between
what’s fact and fiction in the book.

When I developed
the Charmed Amish Life series, I knew I wanted it to center the storylines
around a lumber mill, because the Keim Lumber Mill is a major employer in the
real Charm, Ohio.
I also wanted to name some of the other spots one might visit when they come to
the area. So I did my best to focus on those realities. Besides that, though,
most of my novel is fiction. I made up all the people, made up a tragedy that
took place at the lumber mill, and of course, the storyline is all my own.

How much research did you have to do for
this book?

I’ve found that
visiting places where I’ve set my novels is extremely helpful. I’m able to add
lots of small details that I would have known about if I hadn’t actually
visited the place. Enjoying a few days in each setting also helps me set the
overall tone in my novels.

I actually did
quite a bit of research for this series. I toured the lumber mill and did a lot
of reading about Amish-owned lumber mills. I visited all the real places that I
mention in the book. I used my teaching experience to help with the scenes that
took place at the school. I even spent a day researching pygmy goats for the
scenes with Princess. That part of my research was a lot of fun!

What are some of the most interesting
things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?

I’m a big
believer in letting the characters drive a story. Because of that, although I
have researched a place thoroughly, I often won’t write paragraphs filled with
details about the scenery or history of the area. I don’t want the reader to
get bogged down with information that doesn’t pertain to the book’s plot.

What inspired and surprised you while you
were writing the book?

Since I don’t
plot very much before beginning a novel, I’m always surprised about what
happens in a book. A Daughter’s Dream was no different! The biggest surprise was
that the original goals and dreams that I had planned for them to have
changed.

What do you hope the reader takes away
from the story?

As always, I
hope that readers will be able to relate to the characters and find that they
enjoyed reading it. I also hope that they’ll be interested enough in the
Kinsinger family that they’ll want to read the third and fourth book in the
series.

What is the next project you’re working
on?

I’m currently
working on several novels that will be published in 2017. I’m finishing up a
novella set in Pinecraft, writing the second book in next year’s Amish of Hart
County series, and revising a western historical.

What do you do when you have to get away
from the story for a while?

Since I always
work on more than one project at a time, I’ve found that I do take breaks from
my stories. This really helps me see areas where each book could be improved.

Please give us the first page of the
book.

Thursday, August 13

Keeping
twenty-five schoolchildren reasonably happy and on task for a solid hour was
harder than it looked.

As Rebecca
Kinsinger stood at the front of the classroom and eyed the group of students
staring right back at her, she realized she had seriously misjudged her ability
to manage small children.

In the last
hour, the twenty-five students, ranging in ages from five to fourteen, had
decidedly taken the upper hand. They’d talked to one another. They’d ignored
her wishes. They didn’t seem all that interested in the work their usual
teacher had assigned them to do. Even the four children whom she knew well were
acting up. Evan, Samuel, Maisie, and Gretel Kurtz acted as if they had
forgotten that their elder sister, Darla, was married to Rebecca’s brother
Lukas.

It seemed that
different rules applied at school than when they visited her home.

As a former teacher, I know how that
first day feels. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find
me on Facebook at shelley shepard gray, on Twitter @shelleySGray, and on my
website, at www.shelleyshepardgray.com

Thank you, Shelley, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Dear Readers, Valerie
Comer is one of my author friends in Canada. I’ve really loved getting
to know her, and her stories are wonderful.

Welcome back,
Valerie. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Secrets of Sunbeams kicks off a new series for me! I was poking
around, trying to decide what a new series based on local food initiatives from
an urban point of view might look like. Spokane,
Washington, was rising to the top for a
setting and, as soon as I discovered that Spokane
allows backyard goats in parts of the city, the first scene of this novel
popped into my head.

If you were planning
a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would
you invite and why?

Some of those authors
are new to me, but the ones I know in the collection write books I love. Now
let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six
people would you invite and why?

This is a bit tougher for me, as I don't read much
historical fiction. I'd have to start with you, Lena!
Then I'd add Mary Connealy, Angela Breidenbach, Sherri Wilson Johnson, Leah
Atwood, and Joanne Bischof.

We’d have a lot of
fun. Thanks for including me. Many times, people (and other authors) think you
have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem
with writing at this time in your career?

When Secrets of Sunbeams releases solo
later in July, it will be my fifteenth title. Writing is a fulltime job for me,
at least when I add in publishing and marketing! The hardest thing still is
obscurity. I have accumulated many avid fans, which is awesomely cool, but I
know there are many more readers who would enjoy my stories if only they knew
about them.

This is the main reason I join multi-author box sets, such
as Whispers
of Love. A group of authors can reach many more readers than one author
can alone.

That is so true. And
the focus of my blog is to introduce good writers to readers. I love doing
that. Tell us about the featured book, Secrets
of Sunbeams.

Good fences make good neighbors.
Especially if your neighbor is a goat.

Eden Andrusek knows she should have fixed her fence last
week. It’s too bad her runaway goat makes a less-than-ideal first impression on
her new neighbor, who turns out to be cute, brilliant… and a little uptight.

Solar architect Jacob Riehl is furious when he returns
outside to find a goat eating his presentation. As someone who likes everything
in its place, he has little sympathy for a farm animal in the city or its
tattooed owner, but there’s something about the lovely Eden that captures his attention.

What will it take to win over a man whose only pet was a
goldfish? And how long can Jacob and Eden go without addressing the goat in the
room?

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Eden Andrusek stopped so suddenly the screen door slammed
her backside. Where was Pansy? Eden
shaded her eyes and glanced around the backyard. No way. She’d only been inside
a minute.

“Pansy!” she yelled, jogging down the three steps to the
barren yard. “Where are you?”

The gate at the side of the small house was definitely
closed. The backyard was completely fenced with no hiding places. Except...

Eden’s
pulse quickened at the sight of a vertical board in the side fence hanging
slightly askew. She ran across the yard, nearly tripping over the metal bucket
Pansy had been playing with, and pushed at the errant board. It swung aside.
That was definitely enough room for the escape artist.

She crouched and peered through the gap into the neatly
mowed lawn of the Victorian next door. A side table with a glass of something
clear and red sat beside an empty deck chair facing...

“Pansy! No!”

The goat only glanced over as she chewed the paper dangling
from her mouth.

Readers can find me at my website, http://valeriecomer.com. This is the place
to find my blog, my social media links, and to join my monthly newsletter list.

Secrets of Sunbeams is available right now only in Whispers
of Love, along with eleven other full-length contemporary romances from
bestselling Christian authors. The price is 99 cents — yes, for 12 books!! —
but it goes up on July 4.

Thank you, Valerie, for sharing both of these books with us today. I'm eager to read it. I had already downloaded Whispers of Love. I love reading collections that contain some authors I know.Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook, Whispers of Love. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Monday, June 27, 2016

Dear Readers, we’re
featuring a novel today from an author who is new to this blog. It is set in the WWII era. As you will see from the
first page of the novel later in the interview, this author really has a strong
grip on the feel of the era.

Bio: Gail
Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. Now she focuses on writing
women’s fiction and facilitating writing workshops and women’s retreats. She
and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa,
and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter. Meeting new reading and writing
friends is the meringue on Gail’s pie, as her heroines would say.

Welcome, Gail. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I don’t consciously do this, but once the book is finished
and I’m doing readings or workshops or interviews about the novel, I realize
how much of my attitudes enter into certain characters’ reactions. Or I make
someone into my exact opposite. Another thing happened with my debut novel.
After the fact, a reader’s questions helped me realize that the heroine had
many things in common with someone else from my past—but I had no conscious
intention of doing this.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

When I facilitated caregiver and grief workshops for Hospice
and Community Health Nurses, I traveled often. Being ridiculously frugal, I
shared rides from airports with others traveling to state or national
conferences. Many people would never do this with folks they’d never met, but I
had total trust in Hospice folks and God’s protection. Besides, things in
general were a bit safer back then. I must admit, though, that this method got
me into a few pickles.

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

In junior high, a long, LONG time ago! Poetry was my first
love, and remained my main genre for many years.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Women’s historical fiction, biographies, and a little
mystery. I like non-fiction, too, especially memoir—and reading poetry still is
a joy.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

I don’t run. My life has become pretty sedentary, since I
write most of the time. Sometimes I feel like I run from writing to editing to
promoting, though—there’s always so much to learn!

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

I review classic stories I love, study names in cemeteries,
and check lists of common names for various nationalities. Sometimes, a
conversation will spark a name that “rings” just right to me for a certain
character. I also ask some friends if I get stuck.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal brings me unique
satisfaction. For example, I really wanted to instruct classes at a certain
institution, but roadblocks kept popping up. I prayed and prayed about this,
and when a full-time position finally was offered, I literally jumped up and
down.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d be a giraffe. The idea of looking down at the everyday
world from a high vantage point intrigues me—just think how different a lilac
bush would look to a giraffe. Besides that, I’m enamored with the design of the
giraffe’s hide.

What is your favorite
food?

Um . . . it’d be easy to tell you what it used to be back
when I could eat most anything I wanted. But a lactose, sugar, and gluten-free
diet cramps my style. However, I’ve learned to meld all these “frees” into a
satisfying snack that seems like a sandwich. (I used to crave grainy breads and
cheese.) Now, I layer a corn tortilla with almond cheese, black olives,
avocado, spinach, kale, fat-free refried beans or whatever else I have, top all
this with another tortilla, and brown on both sides. The cheese melts, a la
grilled cheese sandwich. Yum.

I don’t have those
dietary restrictions, but that sounds delicious, minus the beans, which I am
allergic to. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock,
and how did you overcome it?

Believing I had something to say that would be of interest
and help to others. It took years to shoo my low self-image aside and write
from my experience. Starting with a memoir helped me, I think, because I could
express the struggle, and that of many other women. It wasn’t until afterward
that fictional characters started appearing in my thoughts.

Tell us about the
featured book.

In Times Like These has been a long time in the writing. I was
advised to give up on it, but my heroine wouldn’t let me. World War II forms a
backdrop for this young Iowa
farmwife’s personal struggle on the home front.

Her controlling husband Harold vents his rage on her when
his father's stoke prevents him from joining the military. He degrades Addie,
ridicules her productive victory garden, and even labels her childlessness as
God's punishment.

When he manipulates his way into a military unit bound for Normandy, Addie learns that her best friend Kate’s pilot
husband has died on a mission, leaving her stranded in London in desperate straits.

Readers will cheer Addie as she summons courage to help Kate,
claims her voice, and learns to trust God with her future.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Someone wearing Burma Shave hoisted Addie from a rickety oak
piano stool into a polka’s wild pulse. One minute, she did her best to keep up
with George Miller’s accordion tempo. The next, she flew around the crowded
town hall’s wooden dance floor.

His strong arms pulled her out of a twirl, and laughing
brown eyes sparkled at her between deep-set matching wrinkles.

“Your feet are almost as talented as your fingers on those
old ivories, Mrs. Bledsoe.”

She gathered her wits. “George?”

The rural mailman’s laughter melded with aromas from the
food table, where aproned women plied homemade chocolate cake, lemon pie and
other delicacies. Nearby, the steady glub glub of every percolator in Halverson, Iowa
kept time with the music.

Over on the makeshift stage, somebody else belted notes from
George’s bright red accordion, but before Addie could figure out who it was, he
lunged her through the Wooden Heart Polka.

An old fellow on the tuba and his wife on the concertina
zipped into foot-tapping melody. More onlookers took to the dance floor and a
whirr of excitement buzzed the high-ceilinged room.

Above it all, a wide paper banner announced the reason for
the festivities. Red Cross Annual Roll Call—Halberton CountyGoal
for 1941—$10,000. Below, someone penciled in earmarks: $500, $1,000, $1,250, and on to the final
amount.

George pulled Addie to the side of the dance floor and
grinned down at her. “If you weren’t married, I’d take you up to New Ulm,
Minnesota, to hear The Six Fat Dutchmen. Been in the business since ’32. They
spruce up the beat so, I can hardly make it through the moves.”

The piano started in again and perky crescendos added an
upswing. The pianist’s flaming hair fit right into the gala atmosphere. Leave
it to Fern to blend an oompah beat with runs she normally played on the church
organ.

Then Kate grabbed Addie’s hand, her eyes flashing as blue as
an Iowa
summer sky. George threw up his palms in mock dismay and waved Addie off with
her best friend.

Kate grabbed a chair and pulled Addie down beside her “Hey—you
haven’t forgotten how to dance.”

“The last time I attempted a polka was at . . .”

“Our senior formal. Harold wouldn’t lower himself to polka,
so Joe took you out.”

“While Alexandre swooshed you around Canadian style. And a
few months later, he took you to Canada.”

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Sunday, June 26, 2016

J C (IN) is the winner of A Silver Medallion by James R Callan.Beth (IA) is the winner of My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson.Connie (KY) is the winner of Signed, Sealed, and Delighted or the ebook Lone Star Love by Crystal L Barnes.ConTom(OH) is the winner of In Love and War by Trish Perry and others.Ginger (AL) is the winner of Coloring the Scriptures by Michelle Stimpson.If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Dear Readers, the
first time I became aware of Jamie Bryant was when I had a speaking event with
a books signing at the assisted living center where she was the Executive Director. Soon after, I saw her at church. We had been going to the same
church, and I hadn’t realized it. We’ve become good friends. This children’s
book convinced me, she has many more to come. I enjoyed the story, and I know
my great grandsons will, too. I’m looking forward to reading it to them.

Welcome, Jamie. What
has drawn you to writing for children?

Having three children of my own that I loved to read to
inspired me early on. Also I had a home childcare business for 15 years and I
loved seeing the expressions and hearing the laughter of children as I read to
them or when we went to the library for Story Time. Bringing joy, mystery, and
surprise through my writing to children is very rewarding.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

When other people are talking I do the “mouth thing.” My
lips are moving with theirs as they’re talking. Don’t know if I’m trying to
help people talk (lol) or if I just love to talk so much I can’t wait for my
turn. :)

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

I loved writing in school, but the writer in me really came
out in 2001 (15 years ago). I had some challenges with forgiveness from my past
that I couldn’t seem to move on from. One day I sat down and started writing
about fun, happy times I had as a child, and through that exercise I kept
remembering more and more wonderful things to write about. Truly writing
brought not only healing but true forgiveness as I chose to cherish and
remember the great memories and not the other ones. (It’s what prompted the
stories in Fish Guts and Other Bedtime
Stories)

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Fiction: Christian Romance, and Short Stories.

Non-Fiction: Works of inspiration by pastors and leaders in
body of Christ. I also love reading great children’s fiction and non-fiction
books to my grandchildren.

What other books have
you written, whether published or not?

Fish Guts and Other Bedtime Stories (Is published and a Re-launch
scheduled in August 2016) Frog Funeral
and Other Bedtime Stories (Set for publication September 2016) The Love Bug (Book One in The Fruit of
the Spirit Collection, Due late July 2016) Sneeze
and Toot (not yet published)

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

My faith in Christ. Having an intimate, daily, personal
relationship with Jesus Christ keeps me centered on what and who are really
important in life…the who being People!

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

Following my dream to see my writing to fruition and on bookshelves
today.

If you were an animal,
which one would you be, and why?

Okay this question puzzled me, so I did a test online to see
what animal they said I was. LOL. After reading the results I agreed and I’m
apparently an Otter! Why? Because they are petite, engaging, and mix easily with
a wide range of personalities. When an otter gets focused on a problem it won’t
give up until accomplished (That’s me) They are dedicated problem solvers. The
otter did have a few not so desirable attributes too, but let’s don’t focus on
those. :)

I don’t think so. Although there are a lot of wonderful
children’s books out there when I’m looking for a book to read to my
grandchildren I spend a great deal of time searching. I’m looking for great
illustrations, humor, and for books that offer teaching moments.

What advice would you
give to an author wanting to do that?

Sit down today and write. If you’re not an illustrator (I’m
not) there are many ways today through a variety of websites to get great
illustrations at a great price. Also you will need to not just be a writer but
the primary Sales and Marketing Department for your book. If you don’t sell it,
who will?

What would you like
to tell us about the featured book?

Monkey in the Mailbox is the first book in a series (Denny’s
Surprise Day Series) about a young boy named Denny. On a routine visit to get
the mail, Denny is met with a big surprise. The only problem for Denny is, he’s
the only one who sees what’s in the mailbox. Children of all ages will enjoy
seeing what surprises greet Denny is this humorous fun story.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Friday, June 24, 2016

BIO: Kelli Stuart is a storyteller at heart with an affinity for
languages, travel, and history. She is fluent in the Russian language and has
spent the last twenty years researching the effects of World War II on the
former Soviet Union. Kelli's first novel, Like a
River From Its Course, is an epic story of war, love, grief, and
redemption set in World War II Soviet Ukraine. It released in June, 2016. Kelli
lives in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and four children.

Welcome, Kelli. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your
characters.

That’s tricky to answer in the
context of this novel because these characters were all composites of men and
women I interviewed for my book, but there were a couple of instances when I
wrote my own specific experiences into a character’s narrative. For example,
when one of the characters has a baby, she experiences an overwhelming feeling
of knowing her child, as though somehow he’d always been with her. That was a
strong feeling I had after the birth of my firstborn. He was so familiar to me
– I felt as if I’d known him my entire life. It was fun to include that in the
character’s narrative.

I had another experience with my
oldest when he was around 5, and I was teaching him Russian. We’d sit down to
work on his language, and he would tell me he wanted to talk “real,” not
Russian. So I included a similar situation between the mother and her son later
on in the book. It’s fun to use little connections here and there in the book
to leave a personal imprint.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I college I spent a semester
studying Russian in Kiev, Ukraine. Every day as I made my way
from the apartment I lived in to the school, I passed by several people in the
subways playing music. They’d sit their hats on the floor and sing or play an
instrument and people would drop change into their hats. I wanted to know if I
could get some money for singing in the subway.

One morning, a friend and I put a
hat on the floor of the subway and we started singing. We made enough to buy
ourselves breakfast. J

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always loved writing, and I
suppose I knew I had a knack for it, but I didn’t consider it as a profession
until my sophomore year in college. I wrote a paper for one of my Lit classes,
and a few weeks after turning it in, the professor called me into his office
and told me he’d entered it into a contest, and I had won. He suggested I
consider a degree in Professional Writing. I switched majors that week, and my
future kind of exploded before my eyes. The last two years of college were a
blast because I was finally doing what I loved and what I was good at—a pretty
brilliant combination.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I really love fiction. I struggle
with nonfiction. Unless it’s told in a very creative way (Laura Hillenbrand is
the most creative and engaging nonfiction writer I’ve ever read), then I
typically won’t finish the book.

I do like autobiographies, and I
like a wide range of fiction from historical to classical to contemporary, and
a little bit of post-apocalyptic thrown in for fun.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Oh goodness, I lost my sanity
years ago. If you find it, feel free to send it back.

Pulling away now and again
centers me. I need some alone time to think, to read, to talk with my husband,
to write, to pray. If I go too long without those things I start to get antsy.
I’ve also found that if I allow myself the freedom to go at a slower pace I
feel a lot more peaceful. Rather than measuring myself against the someone
else’s standards, I remember that I was created with a unique design, and when
I embrace that I’m much more content.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

There are some very typical and
common Slavic names that I knew I wanted to use in the book. If you visit Russia or Ukraine,
you’re guaranteed to meet several Ludas, Olegs, Marias,
Ivans, Tanyas, Katyas, and Sergeis. Because I interviewed so many people
throughout the country of Ukraine,
I had a vast pool of names from which to choose. I went with the ones that I
thought readers could most easily pronounce.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Well, finishing this book!

I wanted to give up so many
times. I was certain that I couldn’t pull it off. I didn’t think I was smart
enough or talented enough to write these stories in the way they were meant to
be told.

The history of those days is
convoluted, and I didn’t want to mess it up. I almost talked myself out of this
book several times, but I just couldn’t let it go. So I pushed through, and
ultimately I’m so pleased with the results.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A panda bear. They just always
seem so happy and content and playful. That sounds like fun.

What is your favorite food?

I have to pick one food?!

I guess I’ll go with Nutella
because I feel like it is God’s gift to this world sent straight from heaven
above. I’m nearly certain it will be on the heavenly banqueting table.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and
how did you overcome it?

Finding the time to sit down and
write is always my biggest challenge. With four children, time is a precious
commodity, and large chunks of time are rare. I mine those out like gold. I
struggle to get any significant writing done in short blocks of time. I need at
least two hours to get ramped up, so learning to find the time to pour into
writing is always a hurdle I have to overcome. And then relinquishing guilt
when I did pull away was always a challenge as well.

Tell us about the featured book.

Like a River From Its Course
is a historical set in World War II Soviet Ukraine, and it follows four unique
characters as they walk the reader through those dark years. It is a story of
heartache and grief, of love, forgiveness, and redemption. The book is based on
the true stories I gathered in over hundred interviews with former World War II
survivors from the Soviet Union.

BOOK BLURB:

The city of Kiev
was bombed in Hitler’s blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union,
but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this
sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating
journey into the little-known history of Ukraine’s tragedies through the
eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different
perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen
when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a
German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her
beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely
mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who
are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the
“killing ditch. He survived, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda Michaelevna never knew her
mother. Growing up with an alcoholic father, Luda
is only sixteen when the Nazis invade, and she’s brutally attacked due to
her father’s negligence. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is
abandoned, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust again and find her own
strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Herrmann is sure in his
knowledge that the Führer’s plans for domination are right and just. He is
driven to success by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind
faith in the ideals of Nazism.

Please give us the first page of the book.

MARIA “MASHA” IVANOVNA

June 22, 1941 Kiev,
Ukraine

“Papa! Papa!”

The screams lift from my chest,
but I don’t feel them escape. As the flat flashes and shakes, I turn circles. I
know I’m home, but I don’t know just where I am. I can’t cry, can’t walk, can’t
find my family. I can only scream, and again I cry out, the sound pulled
involuntarily from my soul.

He flips to his hands and knees,
and I grab onto one of his ankles behind him, shuffling along the floor to the
hallway where my mother, sister Anna, and brother Sergei huddle close. They are
three who look like one, intertwined in such a way that I can’t tell where one
begins and the other ends. I join the heap, my father lying over all of us.

For the first hour, I’m sure that
we’re moments from meeting the saints. I pray to Saint Maria to bring me
quickly to her with little pain. I fear pain.

As I pray for an easy transition
into the afterlife, my father speaks soothingly in my ear. “You’re fine, my
daughter,” he whispers, a balm to my terror. “We’re going to be fine.”

I don’t believe him. I want to,
but I can’t. So as the sky flashes, I continue to whisper my litany mostly
because I can’t stop.

Travel back in time in Kelli Stuart's new novel, Like a River from Its Course, as the city of Kiev is bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union. This sweeping historical saga takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Celebrate the release of Like a River from Its Course with Kelli by entering to win a Kindle Fire Prize Pack.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Dear Readers, I first
met Lacy Williams when I spoke to a writer’s group in Oklahoma. It was my pleasure and great
blessing to encourage her at that time, and I’ve enjoyed watching her, from
afar in Texas,
as her writing career developed and grew. And now she’s setting fairy tales in
modern time with cowboys. Two of my favorite things. What’s not to love?

Welcome back, Lacy. God
has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I’m excited to be working on more indie releases. I have six
books planned in the Cowboy Fairytales series and have some ideas of what I’ll
write in the fall. I do have some time off planned coming up in July and August
(you’ll see why in the next answer!). Also releasing later this month is THE
BUTTERFLY BRIDE, a novella I really enjoyed writing for Serenade Books.

Tell us a little
about your family.

Hubby and I have three kids aged six and under (two girls
and a boy), and we have a new arrival on the way, coming in early July! Our
oldest just “graduated” from Kindergarten and is already reading chapter
books—I think she’s going to be a reader like mom. Our second will go into Pre-K
in the fall and he’s soooo excited to get to go to school with big sister. All
three are on the countdown for the new arrival and have helped with decorating
the baby’s room.

Congratulations. I
didn’t know about the new blessing to join your family. Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I have a lot less time to read now, especially with kids
demanding a lot of my time. Most days I have the choice between writing or
reading (no time to do both!). I try really hard to turn off my internal editor
when I read and just relax, and I enjoy really diverse tastes in fiction,
though most have romance threads in them!

What are you working
on right now?

I am working through edits on the third and fourth books in
the Cowboy Fairytales series (THE TOAD PRINCE and THE BEASTLY PRINCESS) and
plotting out book five (THE LOST PRINCESS). This has been a really fun series
to write. Each book is loosely based on a well-known fairy tale, but they are
set in modern day times and also have cowboys in them (cowboys are kind of my
thing). Revisiting the fairy tales has been a really fun exercise.

What outside
interests do you have?

Hubby and I sneak date nights when we can. We love to see
movies (romance for me, action for him) or go out to eat and just enjoy the
peace and quiet.

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

Most recently, I’ve written contemporary cowboys in Oklahoma and Texas.
I grew up on my grandpa’s farm in small-town Oklahoma, running around in the fields and
checking the cows with my dad and fishing when we could sneak away. My
growing-up years played a huge part in building my imagination and it’s only
natural that many of the settings I’ve chosen have grown out of that small-town
background.

If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Probably Jane Austen. She’s my favorite historical author.

What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I’d known that deadlines never get any easier. It
seems like the activities at school ramp up or my kids get sick just before
every deadline, whether with a publisher or my own self-imposed deadlines for
indie publishing. I’ve learned to write ahead when I can!

What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?

At this stage of my life, I’m learning a lot about
flexibility and patience. Life with small children is a lot of fun, but can
also be challenging. There is a lot of giving up of self and that’s not always
easy either. But God strengthens me throughout and I’m so thankful for the
blessings He has given me!

What are the three best
things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Write every day. Find a mentor. Never give up.

Tell us about the
featured book.

ONCE UPON A COWBOY
is a retelling of the Snow White fairytale. When Princess Alessandra barely
survives an assassination attempt, she finds herself isolated on a Texas ranch with seven
woolly cowboys—and she can’t help falling for the most irascible one of all,
Gideon Hale.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Early February

Just keep smiling.

Princess Alessandra, second in line for the throne of
Glorvaird, meandered through the crush of bodies as the Who's-Who of New York
City society mingled on the sidewalk outside a ritzy hotel. Inside the ballroom
would be even worse, stuffy with the heat of so many people. The icy air
chilled her skin where the slinky dress she wore didn't cover nearly enough
beneath her designer coat, but inside she'd be grateful to shed her outerwear.

She detested events like these. But her royal duty demanded
her presence. Her sister, the crown princess, had tasked her with forging
alliances with two powerful dignitaries, which she would attempt when she could
get inside. Two hours, and she could return to her own hotel, several blocks
away. And rid herself of the awful, pinching heels her stylist had provided.

Paparazzi snapped pictures from behind a cordoned-off line,
the flashes from their cameras whisking her to the present and out of her
thoughts. Hired security milled around, looking bored. After years of being in
the public eye, she was used to the presence of both.

It didn't mean the press weren't as annoying as gnats,
constantly buzzing in her ear.

One misstep, one faux pas, could follow her around on the
Internet for a year.

She smoothed her skirt unobtrusively and kept the smile
fixed on her face.

A hand on her elbow made her pause amidst the crowd.

Her bodyguard. Tim was dark-haired and fair-complected,
bulky, and more than a head taller than she. He usually faded into the
background.

The fact that he'd moved in close had her pulse speeding.

"What's—" wrong?

I’m loving it so far.
Can’t wait until my copy arrives. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Comment Question: Do you like fairy tales? Cowboys? Which do you like best?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Bio: Varina Denman writes
stories about the unique struggles women face. A native Texan who spent her
high school years in a small Texas town,
Varina now lives near Fort Worth
with her husband and five mostly grown children. Her passion is helping
others make peace with their life situations. Varina’s Mended Hearts series is
a compelling blend of women’s fiction and inspirational romance.

Welcome, Varina. Tell us
how much of yourself you write into your characters.

As
little as possible and as much as it takes. With every heroine I create, I tell
myself she’s going to be her own person and not at all like me, but I’ve
discovered that’s quite impossible. Each of my girls shares a few
characteristics of my own, and usually these are revealed during the quiet
times of the book. Whenever the main character is reflecting on her feelings or
emotions, I draw on my own experiences to fuel her spirit.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

I’ve
been told some of my mothering skills are quirky. When my children were young,
I let them crawl in and out the kitchen window instead of using the back door.
My friends thought I was nuts, but honestly, it was pure selfishness. The kids kept
themselves busy … which left me with more quiet time … to read.

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

I
didn’t consider writing until I was forty years old, and I didn’t actually try
it for a few years after that. And even THEN, I doubted the possibility. It
wasn’t until I completed my first novel and found my agent that I actually
believed I might be able to pull it off.

Tell us the range of the
kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My
faves are mainstream literary fiction that crossover into women’s fiction, but
I also enjoy young adult, inspirational romance, and the occasional dystopian.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

This
is a challenge for me because I LOVE to work. It makes me happy. However, it
also wears me out and drags me away from family and friends, and I have to
force myself to slow down and breathe. I take long baths, watch movies, and
play games with the family, but what helps the most is prayer and quiet time so
I can reflect on the important things in life.

How do you choose your
characters’ names?

Some
characters automatically have a name as soon as I consider their personality.
The name just pops into my head. Other characters require more thought.
Sometimes I’ll search baby name websites, taking the meaning of the name into
consideration, and I’ve also been known to put it to my readers, taking an
online survey after giving a brief description of the character. That’s always
fun!

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m
proud that I’ve managed to keep my Christianity in spite of the crazy world we
live in. I’m proud that I’ve stayed married for twenty-nine years, even though
marriage is ridiculously hard. I’m proud that my kids seem to be turning out
all right, in spite of having me as a mother. As far as my writing is concerned
… I think I’m most proud of the messages my books give to readers, and I’m glad
I’ve been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and encourage others.

If you were an animal,
which one would you be, and why?

The
kind that stays in their den most of the time, rarely seen by humans, but
believed to be friendly and nonaggressive.

What is your favorite
food?

I’m
addicted to fruit smoothies, and I have one for breakfast every morning. My
favorite is banana-strawberry-chocolate-peanut butter, and I throw in a scoop
of vanilla protein powder so I can call it a meal instead of a dessert.

What is the problem with
writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Probably
the greatest roadblock was the way I wrote my rough drafts. They were ALL OVER
THE PLACE, and it took me months to clean them up into a manageable storyline.
I read several craft books on plotting and structure, and now I build a solid
outline before I ever begin drafting.

Tell us about the
featured book.

A
heartbroken woman desires to move beyond old memories, but will her past give
way to hope?

Lynda
Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their
young daughter fifteen years ago, yet unexpected hope awakens when a local
ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight
for her emotional stability and for a life in which the shadow of shame is
replaced by the light of love.

Jilted
tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, of a man determined to draw
her back toward happiness, and of a town that must—once and for all—leave the
past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work
together for good.

Please give us the first
page of the book.

My
daughter, Ruthie, always called me a glass-is-half-empty kind of person, but
she was wrong. Not only was my glass half empty, but a tiny crack shot diagonally
from a chip on the rim, and something bread-like hovered in the murky liquid.
But I was in the process of tossing that damaged tumbler and getting a
brand-new one. Even though I would never be a Susie Sunshine, I was determined
to stop hiding inside myself. But it wasn’t proving easy.

Today
I sat in my hatchback on the side of Highway 84, sizzling like bacon in the
afternoon sunshine. I did this a lot. Sometimes I turned off at the lake and
stared at the rippling water, but most times, like today, I drove all the way
to the wind fields to gaze at the turbines—white needles against a blue sky. I
reached across the seat and cranked down the window on the passenger side to
allow a breeze in. Ninety-four degrees in September, but it could have been
worse. Last week we were still in triple digits.

As
a pickup truck sped past, my little silver car rocked gently and I almost
ducked, but it was only Old Man Guthrie. His index finger made a slow salute in
greeting, but I did nothing in response. My typical hello. My friend Clyde
Felton called me distant, but really I was just tired. Tired of waving. Tired
of pretending. Tired of trying.

I
focused my gaze on the jagged pastureland beyond the pavement and hoped nobody
else would interrupt my thoughts. Then again, I sometimes wished God had
provided an on/off switch so we women could shut down our brains when the
memories started echoing.

For
me, those memories were men. Ruthie may have insisted that my glass was half
empty, but I liked to think it was filled up fine until the men in my life
started throwing rocks at it for sport. Over the years I had gradually trained
myself to shy away from males, other than the men in my family. And Clyde. Even Old Man Guthrie knew better than to stop and
check on me, thank goodness. If he had, I would’ve been forced to explain why a
grown woman was sitting in her car on the side of the highway, staring at the
wind turbines. I smiled.

Those
windmills, marching across the Caprock like evenly spaced tin soldiers,
stretched for miles south of town and settled my nerves like a dose of Valium.
Not that I’d had any Valium lately, but one doesn’t quickly forget.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com